New Hampton Tribune

Rita M. Gebel dies at 83

Tue, 07/05/2016 - 2:16pmRuth

Rita M. Gebel age 83 of Lawler, IA died Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at Hillcrest Home in Sumner.A Mass of Christian Burial was held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 2, 2016, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler with Rev. Jim Brockman celebrating the Mass. Lector for the service was Sally Yungtum. Leah Gebel, Megan Anderson and Heather Novak presented the offertory gifts. The Lau Family joined the congregation in song.Interment was in the church cemetery with Randy Novak, Adam Gebel, Cory Gebel, Travis Gebel, Matt Gebel and Sid Gebel as pallbearers.Friends greeted the family 4 - 8 p.m. Friday, July 1, 2016, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler. Visitation continued an hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Funeral arrangements are with Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in Lawler. Online condolences for Rita’s family may be left at hugebackfuneralhome.com Rita Mary Gebel was born October 9, 1932, in Festina, the daughter of John and Auguste (Hartman) Gossling. She attended St. Mary’s School in Festina and her senior year of high school in Calmar. Rita worked as a chair assistant for a dentist in Ossian, and then did housework for Dr. and Mrs. Murtaugh in New Hampton. On October 20, 1953, Rita married Robert Francis Gebel at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Festina. To this union nine children were born. The couple farmed north of Lawler from 1953 – 1988. Rita was a great cook and was famous for her angel food cakes and the bread and buns she baked. She also loved teaching her children and grandchildren how to bake. Rita used to say the guys must have smelled her baking from the road because they would stop in to sample her baked items. No matter what hardships she faced, she always had a positive, upbeat attitude. She always made everyone else feel loved and did whatever she could to make things better for them.Survivors include five sons, John Gebel of New Hampton, Mike (Judy Paulus) Gebel of Lawler, Bill (Diane) Gebel of Lawler, Dan (Jodie Anderson) Gebel of Lawler, Martin Gebel of Lawler; three daughters, Helen (Scott) Olson of Cresco, LaVonne (Doug) Kahler of Coralville, Linda Gebel of Fredericksburg; 13 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Martin (Margaret) Gossling of Ft. Atkinson, Norbert (Darlene) Gossling of Waucoma, Alphonse (Bev) Gossling of Ossian; two sisters, Marie Tieskotter of Ossian, Sr. Maryan Gossling F.S.P.A. of LaCrosse, Wisc; many nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert in 2010, a son, Art Gebel in 1986; one sister, Theresa Myers.